Topic Reading-Vol.1630-9/27/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

France becomes first country to ban plastic cups and plates

Plastic disposable tableware. Sounds economical, convenient and hygienic but harmful to the environment, doesn’t it? It is so widely used all over the world that eliminating or reducing the use of plastic cups, plates, forks and spoons seems quite challenging.

But France is taking the lead. As the hosting country of the COP21 Climate Change conference in December 2015, it has set the way to reduce greenhouse emissions 40% by 2030 from 1990 levels. The country already banned the use of light plastic bags at supermarket checkouts in July, and now requires all disposable tableware to be made from 50% biologically-sourced materials by January of 2020.

This sounds environmentally friendly to ordinary citizens but economically and practically worrisome to those who produce, distribute and use them.

Whenever an ambitious initiative is raised, there is always backlash from someone.

Enjoy reading and thinking if disposable tableware is necessary in the first place.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/19/europe/france-bans-plastic-cups-plates/index.html